Overview

House of the High Priest

Across from the Principal Temple, there is the house of the high priest. You might have already guessed it – it could not be established if one or several priests actually lived here. It also borders the sacred plaza, and unlike the 2 other temples, it has 4 complete walls. I apparently just snapped a couple of picture of it — which I find hard to believe.

Machu Picchu: Sacred Plaza and around it, the Temple of the High Priest (front), Temple of the 3 Windows (right), and Principal Temple (on left in the back). Picture was taken from the quarry.

Machu Picchu: Quarry (in the mist in the back) and House of the High Priest (on the left)

The Temple of three Windows

The building is bordering the sacred plaza and named for the 3 trapezoidal windows. Nothing is known about it function. One source claims that it contained large amounts of broken pottery maybe ritually smashed. The masonry is of high quality and is certainly the work of masters in their field.

Machu Picchu: Neat Stone Wall of the Temple of the 3 Windows

Machu Picchu: Temple of the 3 Windows from a Distance

The Principal Temple

Also adjacent to the sacred plaza, there is a building named the principal temple. Time as taking its toll, and the walls show some major displacements due to ground settling. A mini-temple is adjoining it which Bingham named sacristy.

Machu Picchu: Cracked Wall of Principal Temple and Intihuatana in the Background

Machu Picchu: Crumbled Wall of Sacred House

Machu Picchu: Sacristy just behind Principal Temple

Intihuatana

Climbing up the hill from the sacred plaza, one can find a processed stone. It purpose is unknown. Bingham named him “Initwatana” which literally means “tie up the sun” in Quechua. It might have served as an astronomical instrument, even though recent research suggests that it was not suitable to be used as a sundial.